Raiders Edge Texans 22-20 as Kubiak Extends Quarterback Competition

Aidan O'Connell recorded 166 passing yards and a rushing touchdown to lead the Las Vegas Raiders to a 22-20 victory over the Houston Texans.

The Las Vegas Raiders secured a 22-20 preseason victory against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, capped by a rushing touchdown from Aidan O'Connell in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. O'Connell finished the contest with 166 passing yards after playing the entire second half. Despite the win, head coach Klint Kubiak declined to name a regular-season starting signal-caller, stating he wants to keep the Raiders quarterback race active for another week to ensure no player becomes comfortable in their position.

Kirk Cousins did not participate in the game, having played only one drive across two preseason appearances. He joined a group of starters on the sideline that included defensive end Maxx Crosby, running back Ashton Jeanty, tight end Brock Bowers, and left tackle Kolton Miller. Kubiak noted that Tuesday's joint practice served as the primary game reps for these veterans. The only projected starters to see action on Thursday were wide receivers Jalen Nailor and Jack Bech.

Mendoza Struggles in First Preseason Start

Rookie Fernando Mendoza started the game and played the duration of the first half, completing 8 of 15 passes for 86 yards. His longest completion was a 22-yard strike to Nailor. However, Mendoza’s opening drive ended in a turnover when linebacker Wade Woodaz intercepted a pass intended for rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. at the Houston 24-yard line. Woodaz returned the interception 80 yards for a touchdown, marking the second pick-six Mendoza has thrown recently following a similar play during joint practices.

The rookie quarterback faced significant pressure throughout his five drives, resulting in one sack and six total pressures. Mendoza acknowledged a need for improved pocket movement, specifically mentioning the necessity of stepping up or moving side-to-side to create time. His connection with rookie wide receiver Malik Benson was inconsistent, as two targets resulted in incompletions. Benson dropped a third-down pass with 3:51 remaining in the second quarter, and a subsequent attempt with 17 seconds left in the half was broken up by cornerback Tremon Smith.

Kubiak Maintains Roster Uncertainty

Kubiak emphasized that the lack of a named starter applies to all positions, suggesting the internal plan for player usage was outlined to the team for the first three weeks of the preseason. Mendoza described the start as a significant step in his development, noting that the small margin for error in the NFL can lead to catastrophic results from a single mistake. The rookie admitted he should have utilized a check-down to the flat on the play that resulted in the Woodaz interception.

With one week remaining in the preseason schedule, the coaching staff continues to evaluate the roster based on both game performance and practice reps. O'Connell’s late-game heroics provided the final scoring margin in a game where the Raiders' offense produced 22 points despite sitting the majority of their first-team unit. The team will now transition into the final week of the preseason with the starting role officially undecided between the veteran Cousins, the second-year O'Connell, and the rookie Mendoza.